Water tank mafia in Karachi
Acute water shortage in the port city has forced Karachiites to buy water tankers on excessive rates as the major water supplying organization in the city – Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) – has failed to provide water tankers on official rates. The long-standing water shortage has managed to become worse. Citizens are forced to depend on private water tanker services. The private water tanker proprietors, taking advantage of this situation, charge Rs 5,000 for 1,000 gallons water, Rs 7,000 for 2,000 gallons and Rs 9,000 for 3,000 gallons despite the water rates fixed by the KW&SB as per the government’s official rates of Rs 1,000 for 1,000 gallons, Rs 1,300 for 2,000 gallons and Rs 1,700 for 3,000 gallons for residential consumers. Residents in every part of the city have complained that they are unable to obtain water through water supply and thus have been forced to purchase water from private tanker suppliers on high rates.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 19:18 UTC
Are all on the same page as usual?
Consequences of government’s incompetence unfolding nowPM Imran Khan was accused of incompetence by his critics during the first year of his tenure. A few months later PML-Q, MQM-P and GDA also raised concerns about the PTI’s governance. The way PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah was taken into custody by the ANF and the role played by a federal minister in the episode was questioned in cabinet meeting. PTI allies are now openly complaining of bad governance both at the center and the provinces ruled by the PTI. Those supposedly on the same page with the PTI government must have been worried by its thoughtless policies that are hurting people badly.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 19:07 UTC
Gujranwala police arrest ‘notorious’ gang
GUJRANWALA: A local police team of police station Saddar Sarai Alamgir on Saturday raided and apprehended a gang of proclaimed offenders of category A. According to police sources, four dacoits and rapists who had unleashed a reign of terror in Gujrat and Sarai Alamgir have been neutralized by Gujranwala Region Police. 267 dated 09-12-15 U/S 302, 148/149 PPC PS Sadar Sarai Alamgir, FIR no. 92 dated 25-05-17 U/S 395/412 PPC PS Sadar Sarai Alamgir, FIR no. 74 dated 09-04-17 U/S 302/148, 149/109 PPC PS Sadar Sarai Alamgir while an FIR was lodged against Qamar Abbas with FIR no.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 18:11 UTC
Govt to crack down on ‘fake news’
The participants also deliberated over the opportunities for youth in the digital media sector, allied challenges and their resolution. Talking to the delegation, the prime minister said the country had come out of the toughest economic condition with the reduced fiscal deficit and revival of the investors’ confidence. Discussing the PTI-led government’s strategy and initiatives regarding the growth of digital media, the prime minister said the medium had emerged as the most effective communication tool in this technological era. Even owing to the swift growth of digital media, the information flow knew no boundaries, he added. Special Assistant to the PM Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari and Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Digital Media Dr Arsalan Khalid along with a delegation of youth from different fields, including the digital media attended the meeting.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 17:48 UTC
India, Australia to slug it out in series decider
BENGALURU: After losing four successive ODIs at home against Australia, India finally found a way to put up an above-par total and pull one back in Rajkot. The last time India played a limited-overs game at this venue, Rahul wasn’t part of the action, in a T20I series decider against South Africa. India have become a more potent white-ball outfit since, but count Australia out at your own peril. They out-thought and overpowered India in the ODI series opener in Mumbai and when Steven Smith and his “long-lost brother” Marnus Labuschange were in control in Rajkot, Australia did threaten to overhaul India’s 340 for 6. And with Kuldeep Yadav also playing a crucial hand in the victory in Rajkot, India might be tempted to give him another go ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 17:15 UTC
Lashari and Mian Misbah groups begin campaigns for Gymkhana polls
Another member said that the panel led by Mian Misbah Ur Rehman was also actively conducting their election campaign and disseminating their message through various sources to the members. Misbah ur Rehman has the support of panel members like Dr Jawad, and in case this panel wins the elections, Dr Jawad might be nominated as the leader. Previously, both Dr Jawad and Mian Misbah Ur Rehman were in rival groups that contested elections against each other whereas sources have termed this move as true ‘politics’. Many of the people who spoke about the elections said that the partnership between Dr Jawad and Mian Misbah Ur Rehman was confusing in terms of leadership. It would no doubt a tough election as Mian Miabah’s group is prepared to give the Lashari group a stiff competition”.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 17:03 UTC
PM orders crackdown after flour prices skyrocket
“The price was increased after a surge in wheat price,” a statement issued by the association read. The PM directed the officials to take effective measures for stabilising the rates of wheat flour and directed the official concerned to act against people involved in creating an artificial crisis of flour in the country. However, this is not the first time the KP minister has come up with such a stupid response to a problem. CRITICISM:National Assembly Opposition Leader Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who is in London for over a month now, slammed the surge in prices of wheat flour across Pakistan. He said the increase in flour prices twice this week was a testament to PTI’s incompetence.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 16:41 UTC
PTI fails to convince MQM-P
The MQM-P convener said talks held with the PTI delegation were “encouraging” and added that the demands put forth by them were for the welfare of the people of Karachi and Sindh. ‘NO MAGIC WAND’:Speaking about the MQM-P demands, PTI leader Khattak said the government does not have a “magic wand” to resolve the problems faced by the allied party at once and that it would need time to fulfill the demands. They are with us but MQM-P has to decide for themselves,” he said, adding that the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere. “In view of my decision not to continue as Member of the Federal Cabinet, I hereby tender my resignation as Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication w.e.f 12th January 2020. On Jan 12, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui had announced that he was resigning as the federal minister for information technology citing the government’s non-serious attitude towards resolving the issues facing Karachi.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 14:48 UTC
Sindh police conspiring against provincial govt, says info minister
KARACHI: Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani on Saturday alleged that some elements of Sindh police were involved in hatching conspiracies against the provincial government. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader alleged that some people are plotting against Sindh government at the behest of IG Imam. Those personnel who want to assist Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should leave their job and join the party, he stressed. The information minister said protests were staged during the PPP tenure against hike in petrol prices, but none of our allies held demonstrations against unemployment. The incompetent government of PTI surged the petroleum prices to highest level in history.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 14:37 UTC
Govt sacks four grade-17 officials named in BISP beneficiary list
Four government officers named in the list of officers who had added their names to the list of beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme were dismissed on Saturday. The officers had added their names and the names of their wives to the list and had been taking money from the programme. 4 grade 17 BISP officers dismissed from service on charges of corruption & misconduct as they got their wives enrolled as BISP beneficiaries fraudulently, using their position in BISP. The most cases were reported in Sindh, where 1,122 officers added their own names. In Balochistan, 741 officers included their names to the list, while 403 did it in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 137 in Punjab.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 14:26 UTC
AJK PM declares snow-affected region as calamity-hit areas
by Staff Report , (Last Updated about 1 hour ago)MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider has declared snow-affected areas of Neelum district, Leepa Valley and Bhedi area of Haveli district as calamity-hit areas. The government of Azad Kashmir (AJK) has nominated Commissioner Muzaffarabad as Relief Commissioner for the affected region under the Natural Calamities Act 1976, according to a statement. Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider has directed the officials to plan relief operations in disaster-hit areas in view of the weather conditions. The land link with Leepa Valley and Bhedi area of district Haveli has been disrupted due to heavy rainfall, the prime minister said. The relief operations in the affected area have been ongoing and military troops and other rescue teams have been engaged in relief and rescue work.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 14:15 UTC
Under-trial prisoners overcrowding jails, IHC told
On November 22, 2019, the IHC had constituted a commission to ensure civil liberties of prisoners. “Even though these prisoners have not yet been convicted of any offences they are languishing in prisons and contributing to overcrowding,” says the report. Presiding over the hearing, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the authority to make arrests is being used “limitlessly”. Mazari also raised the issue of missing persons during the proceedings. Speaking to media outside the court, Mazari said that they had submitted the report regarding prisoners in jails to the IHC and had presented their recommendations before the IHC chief justice.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 14:15 UTC
Pakistani jailed for posing as wife, faking death in £1m insurance scam
A British-Pakistani man was jailed after United Kingdom authorities caught him posing as his wife and faking his own death for a £1-million insurance scam. According to London Police’s insurance fraud department (IFED), Syed Bukhari, 39, “impersonated his female partner on the phone to try and fake his own death”, claiming that he had passed away following a heart attack in Karachi. To try and progress his claim, he “also used a bogus death certificate”, as well as a medical certificate mentioning the cause of death and a trust document. He was convicted of the latest insurance scam on Friday in the UK’s Inner London Crown Court and sentenced to five years and seven months in prison. He had “tricked them into transferring £150,000 into his bank account to apply for loans” and “sold their house without their knowledge”.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 14:15 UTC
England turn screw after Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope hundreds
South Africa 60 for 2 (Bess 2-12) trail England 499 for 9 dec (Pope 135*, Stokes 117, Maharaj 5-180) by 439 runsPORT ELIZABETH: Ollie Pope scored a maiden Test hundred to follow the latest demonstration of Ben Stokes’ immense value to the England cause as South Africa were backed into a corner in Port Elizabeth. Although South Africa responded with their second consecutive fifty stand between openers Dean Elgar and Pieter Malan, there was time for Dom Bess to strike twice before the close. South Africa’s day began badly with the news that Kagiso Rabada would miss the final Test of the series after accruing his latest ICC demerit point. South Africa had reached 50 without loss when the early introduction of spin coaxed an error from Malan, who tried to come down the pitch but only managed to chip a return catch. The return of the rain, which had earlier delayed the start by 45 minutes, presented South Africa with an escape route.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 14:15 UTC
Quetta hero gets PM’s praise for saving over a 100 lives
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday hailed Suleman Khan, a citizen who saved more than 100 people stranded in Quetta’s snow. “The whole nation is proud of Suleman Khan who showed great courage and selflessness to help people stranded in the snow,” tweeted the prime minister. The whole nation is proud of Suleman Khan who showed great courage and selflessness to help people stranded in the snow. The 30-year-old reached the stranded passengers on his vehicle and helped the people to safety and comfort of his home without any assistance from the authorities. I had been trying to help them since 2:00 pm, however, officials arrived around 12:00 am,” Khan told a private media outlet.
Source:Pakistan Today
January 18, 2020 14:15 UTC